Indian Wedding Planners Shift Away from Turkey: A $90 Million Loss for the Ally of Pakistan

As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate, Indian wedding planners are steering clear of Turkey, a key ally of Pakistan. This shift is expected to cost Turkey's tourism industry up to $90 million in lost revenue.

Indian WeddingsTurkeyBoycottOperation SindoorPakistanReal EstateMay 17, 2025

Indian Wedding Planners Shift Away from Turkey: A $90 Million Loss for the Ally of Pakistan
Real Estate:Turkey is facing significant economic repercussions from India for its support of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and the subsequent tensions. In response to the escalation, traders and business leaders in New Delhi have announced a complete and immediate boycott of Turkey. This move comes after India's Operation Sindoor on May 7, which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in retaliation for a recent terror attack in Pahalgam. Amid the calls for a boycott, Turkey's booming wedding industry is expected to take a severe hit. The backlash has prompted Indian wedding planners and families to reconsider their choices, leading many to opt for alternative destinations. “Indian wedding travellers contribute over $140 million annually to Turkey’s tourism economy, and the impact of this shift is seismic,” Nikhil Mahajan, senior representative at Kestone Utsav, a leading Indian wedding planning company, told the Financial Express. To understand the magnitude of the financial implications, let's look at the figures from 2024. In that year alone, Turkey hosted 50 grand Indian weddings, each averaging $3 million, with some reaching up to $8 million, according to a Financial Express report. These multi-day celebrations often involved around 500 guests, providing a significant boost to local vendors and tourism-related businesses. Furthermore, industry data revealed that a typical Indian wedding package for 100 guests started at €350,000 ($385,000), vastly exceeding the cost of local Turkish weddings, which generally range between $1,600 and $5,400. The Indian wedding market in Turkey has expanded nearly 300% from just 13 weddings in 2018 to 50 in 2024, generating close to $150 million last year. However, political tensions that escalated in May 2025 have already led to the cancellation of 2,000 tourist bookings and put 30 of the 50 scheduled Indian weddings for 2025 at risk. With each wedding valued at approximately $3 million, Turkey faces potential direct losses of up to $90 million from these cancellations, the report said. Beyond the financial impact, these weddings employ hundreds of local service providers—from florists to event managers—and attract celebrities and high-net-worth individuals, which helps to position Turkey as a premier luxury destination. The crisis has struck during the peak wedding season, which typically accounts for 60% of Indian weddings in Turkey. Indian weddings contributed about 3% to Turkey’s $3 billion wedding tourism revenue in 2024. The broader tourism sector, which earned $61.1 billion last year, may also experience ripple effects from this downturn. Turkey Faces Heat From Indian Traders, Retailers After traders, top e-commerce players have also begun removing Turkish brands from their platforms in solidarity with the traders’ call. According to a report in The Economic Times, Reliance-owned Ajio and Myntra have suspended sales of major Turkish apparel brands such as LC Waikiki, Koton, Mavi, and Trendyol. Earlier, business leaders from over 24 Indian states convened in New Delhi on Friday to formalize the sweeping measures, spearheaded by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which represents 80 million traders and over 40,000 trade associations nationwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Indian wedding planners avoiding Turkey? A: Indian wedding planners are avoiding Turkey due to the country's support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and the subsequent tensions between India and Pakistan. This has led to a boycott of Turkish destinations and products by Indian traders and business leaders. Q: How much revenue does Turkey stand to lose from the cancellation of Indian weddings? A: Turkey faces potential direct losses of up to $90 million from the cancellation of Indian weddings, with each wedding valued at approximately $3 million. Q: What is the typical cost of an Indian wedding in Turkey? A: A typical Indian wedding package for 100 guests in Turkey starts at €350,000 ($385,000), which is significantly higher than the cost of local Turkish weddings, which generally range between $1,600 and $5,400. Q: How has the Indian wedding market in Turkey grown over the years? A: The Indian wedding market in Turkey has expanded nearly 300% from just 13 weddings in 2018 to 50 in 2024, generating close to $150 million in revenue last year. Q: What other actions are Indian businesses taking against Turkey? A: In addition to avoiding Turkish destinations for weddings, Indian businesses are also removing Turkish brands from their platforms and suspending sales of major Turkish apparel brands such as LC Waikiki, Koton, Mavi, and Trendyol.

Answer not available

Related News Articles

Maharashtra's Growth Potential Highlighted: CM Eknath Shinde Outlines Thane's Development Plans
Real Estate Maharashtra

Maharashtra's Growth Potential Highlighted: CM Eknath Shinde Outlines Thane's Development Plans

Maharashtra has the strength to become the powerhouse of the nation, says CM Eknath Shinde. Thane is a model in development, with a 48 billion dollar economy set to reach 150 billion dollars by 2030.

September 23, 2024
Read Article
Pune Real Estate to See 3.6 Lakhs Residential Units Delivered in 2025, Report Predicts
Real Estate Pune

Pune Real Estate to See 3.6 Lakhs Residential Units Delivered in 2025, Report Predicts

Marvel Realtors is set to add five new iconic projects to the Pune real estate market, capitalizing on the booming NRI investment season.

January 2, 2025
Read Article
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik Urges CREDAI to Partner in MSRTC Land Development
Real Estate Maharashtra

Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik Urges CREDAI to Partner in MSRTC Land Development

Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has urged the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) to actively participate in the development of 1,360 hectares of land owned by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporat

January 19, 2025
Read Article
Boost FSI to Accelerate Urban Redevelopment in Gujarat
Real Estate

Boost FSI to Accelerate Urban Redevelopment in Gujarat

The real estate industry in Gujarat is urging the state government to adopt higher Floor Space Index (FSI) and Transferable Development Rights (TDR) for redevelopment projects, inspired by the successful model in Maharashtra.

January 20, 2025
Read Article
Smart Meter Company Sees 3% Stock Rise After ₹127 Cr Order from Maharashtra Government
Real Estate Maharashtra

Smart Meter Company Sees 3% Stock Rise After ₹127 Cr Order from Maharashtra Government

A leading smart meter company has experienced a 3% surge in stock prices after securing a ₹127 crore order from the Maharashtra government under the MSKVY 2.0 scheme. The order includes the supply of 3 lakh smart meters, marking a significant milestone fo

February 5, 2025
Read Article
Godrej Properties Q3 Results: Net Debt Drops 49% to Rs 3,848 Crore
Real Estate Mumbai

Godrej Properties Q3 Results: Net Debt Drops 49% to Rs 3,848 Crore

Godrej Properties, one of India's leading real estate developers, has announced a significant reduction in its net debt to Rs 3,848 crore in the third quarter of 2024. This marks a 49% decrease from the previous year. The company's strategic focus on debt

February 8, 2025
Read Article